Jonathan Hai - Violin Maker

My great passion for music and woodwork, and my involvement with the latter practically since the day I remember myself, have led me to abandon my work in conservation of historical buildings and archeological sites for the violin-making world (for over 7 years, since I graduated as an engineer from Israel's Institute of Technology the "Technion", I worked in planning conservation projects, mostly in the office of Amnon Bar Or Architects in Tel-Aviv (www.amnon-baror.com).

I started my formal education as a Master Violin Maker (liutaio) in the International Violin Making School A. Stradivari in Cremona, Italy under the guidance of Masters Giorgio Scholari and Massimo Negroni (www.scuoladiliuteria.com) . Cremona, that city where the greatest violin makers labored, and which preserves their heritage and spirit through the work of hundreds of violin makers in the city to this day. Living and working in Cremona, while collaborating with many of its distinguished professionals, were a formative experience for me. Since I returned to Israel I established an independent workshop in the artisans' workshops compound in Kibbutz Ein Carmel.

The main focus of my activity is the construction of new bow instruments, in a personal style, based on the classical models and the long-term Italian tradition, as well as the restoration of bow instruments. I also collaborate on an ongoing basis with Master Violin Makers Eyal Hoffmekler, Shlomo Moyal and Menachem Lucas and with Master Bow Maker David Samuels.